Mechanic&#39;s tool or clamping lever



Sept. 8, 1931.

F. P. JOHNSON Filed Feb. 9; 1929 MECHANICS TOOL OR CLAMPING LEVER atko-z me Patented Sept. 8, 1931 UNITED I STATES PATENT, OFFICE FRANK JOHNSON, OF MARTINDALE, TEXAS J MECHANICS TOOL OR CLAMPING LEVER Application filed February 9, 1929. Serial No. 338,794.

grooved sides of such flooring as has been the practice heretofore.

It further consists of other novel'features of construction, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth. x a

'For the purpose of illustrating the invention, as shown in the accompanying'drawings, 2 one form is atpresent preferreth since the same has been found in practice to give satis-. factory and reliable results. although it is to be understood that various instivlmentalitiesof which this invention consists,'can be variously arranged and organized and that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangementand organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Figure 1 is an isometric view of the tool showing theway in which itis used in holding a flooring board flush againstthe adjacentfiooring board. the jaws of said tool being straddled between the sides of a flooring joist.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary isometric view of one of the straddling jaws of the tool with a notched end therein.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, my invention comprises two curved relatively long handles or levers 10 and 11 which are crossed and pivotally connected by a rivet, bolt or pivotpin 12. The levers 10 and 11 then extend further for a short distance each on the opposite side of the pivot pin 12. each lever taking a right angle turn at 13 and 14 respectively. From here the levers each extend away from each other for a relatively short distance and then again receive a second right angle turn at 15 and 16, and then continue to be spaced apart i'na substantially parallel arrangement from this last right angle turn for another comparatively short distance.

Up to this point it will be seen that the portions of the levers thus far described all lie in one and the same plane. Atthe points 17 approximately at right that the portions of the viously described. At t each of the levers assume bend so that straddling and 18 a third right angle bend is given the levers, so that contact I arms 19 and 20 will lie in a plane that is angles to the plane tool lie in thus prehe points 21 and 22 a fourth right angle jaws 23 and 24 are approximately parallel to each other. A final or fifth right angle bend is now given'to the tool at the points 25 and 26 from which extends grips 27 and 28 each being notched at 29 and 30, so that a biting contact may be easily had therewith when the tool is used to straddle a floor or ceiling joist J and thereby actuated to move a board or plank K sideways close up against a board or L already nailed upon the joist J.

It will be seen that e ach of the levers of this tool has five distinct right angle turns or bends, not all of which lie in the same plane. The length of the different arms in between the respective right angle turns may be made in accordance with the width of the board and joist that th with.

In order to operate th 2 tool is to be used is tool the carpenter opens or spreads apart the levers or handles 10 and 11 so that the clamp will straddle the flooring joist J with the notched ends 29 and 30 gripping into the flooring joist J. The

} flooring board L is already nailed upon the joist J so that the carpenter is enabledto bring the next flooring board K flush against on the handle bars 10 cause the contact arms 19 fully against the side of said flooring board L by merely bearing down and 11 which will and 20 to abut forcethe flooring board K and thereby move the same absolutely flush against the side of the adjacent flooring board L. Furthermore this tool can bemanipulated by one hand of the carpenter or mechanic while he uses his other drive the nails in the ho be-seen that this tool e1 hand to hammer or ard K. It will thus iminates the batterplank ing up with a hammer, inasmuch that the carpenter is not required to demolish the groove or tongue side of the flooring plank or otherwise spike the flooring plank to secure the results accomplished through the use of this invention.

It will now be apparentthat I have devised a novel and useful construction of a mechanics tool which embodies the features of advantages enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description, and while I have, in the present instance, shown and described a preferred embodiment thereof which has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, it is tobe understood that the same is susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A mechanics tool comprising a pair of 25 levers pivoted intermediate their ends, said \levers serving as handles at one end and their other ends each being bent into a plurality of right angles, some of which right angle bends lie in a horizontal plane, others of which right angle bends lie in a vertical plane, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A mechanics tool comprising a pair of levers pivoted intermediate their ends, said levers serving as handles at one end and their a other ends as a pair of gripping leverage clamps, said clamps each being bent into a plurality of right angles, some of which right angle bends lie in a horizontal plane, others of which right angle bends lie in a vertical plane, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A mechanics tool comprising a pair of levers pivoted intermediate their ends, said levers serving as handles at one end and their other ends each being bent into five right I angles, two of which right angle bends lie in the same horizontal plane, another two of which right angle bends lie in the same vertical plane, and another of which right angle bend lies in a-horizontal plane parallel to. the first mentioned horizontal plane, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. A mechanics tool comprising a pair of levers pivoted intermediate theiimends, said levers serving as handles at one end and their other ends as a pair of gripping leverage clamps, said clamps each being bent into five right angles, two of which right angle bends lie in the same horizontal plane, another two of which-right angle bends lie in the same vertical plane, and another of which right angle bend lies in a horizontal plane parallel to the first mentioned horizontal plane. as and for the purpose set forth.

5. A mechanics clamping tool comprising a pair of levers pivoted intermediate their ends, one adjacent pair of the ends of said levers being formed into a handle, the other ends of said levers extending in a common plane beyond the pivoted connection, said latter ends being spaced a substantial distance from each other, said spaced ends being bent in a plane substantially at right angles to said common plane, and a pincer formed at the end of each spaced end. whereby said pincer ends may be clamped into the opposite sides of a joist and act as a fulcrum for the spaced ends to press and hold a fresh plank in place on said joist and against the flooring already nailed on said joist while said fresh plank is beingv nailed between said spaced ends to said joist.

6. A mechanics clamping tool for clamping and holding a plank against the flooring while in the process of being nailed thereto, said tool comprising a pair of pivoted levers having one pair of ends formed into a handle and the other pair of ends formed into opposing pincers, said pincer ends having adjacent portions substantially spaced from each other, said spaced portions being in a plane substantially at right angles to the plane of said handle end.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

FRANK P. JOHNSON. 

